[Tip: VS find combo box] Fun With the Visual Studio find combo box

[From msdn blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/shawnfa/archive/2004/02/27/81338.aspx]

It's interesting to note all the power of the find combo box in the Visual Studio command bar (shortcut cut is: Ctrl + /). it's easily one of the more useful controls I 've ever used, yet it just sits there all quiet and unassuming. I 've run into a lot of people who know one of two tricks that can be done in this box, so I thought I 'd summarize them here.

Of course there's the basic find functionality:

• Find a string -- type the string and press ENTER
• Find the next occurance of the string -- press enter again

But then things get a little more interesting:

• Goto a line -- type the line number and press Ctrl + G
• Goto a file (either in your project or on the include path) -- type the name of the file and press Ctrl + Shift + G
• Set a breakpoint on a function -- type the name of the function and press F9
• Get help -- type the keyword you want help on and Press F1

And my personal favorite:

Mini command window -- if you type> as the first character in the combo box, it will turn into a mini command window, complete with intelliisense! To get the list of Alias commands, you can use> alias to get the list.

Aliases provide a means for entering a command into the find/commandbox or commandwindow by shortening the text needed to execute the command. For example, instead of entering>File.OpenFileTo display the open file dialog box, you can use the pre-defined alias>of. To see msdn Alias List, visit here.

 

Common to use:

Open File:> of/Open